What's new at MLS

SNAP Interview Calls: We have been seeing cases where clients do not receive an interview call  from DTA at the scheduled interview time. The client then receives a "notice of missed interview."  First, please let us know if you have any clients who do not get an interview call…

See also last week's Boston Globe opinion piece on same: https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/09/26/facing-hunger-college-campuses/5YuqiPlgugUwIUhuv3SsBI/story.html ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: James Dubick <james@studentsagainsthunger.org> Date: Wed, Oct 5,…

Settlement in Wage Match case We are writing to alert you to a settlement in wage match lawsuit filed a few years ago against the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA). In 2014 and 2015 DTA sent hundreds of thousands of notices to SNAP households based on a match with Department of…

The graphic below from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities highlights the impact of the SNAP cut starting November 1st. See also August 2013 CBPP analysis of cuts by state.    We urge Coalition members to take every opportunity to talk with SNAP…

At the recent Coalition meeting we discussed some SNAP application verifications. Members reported at the meeting, and in emails to MLRI, that "verification checklists" sometimes asking the SNAP applicants for documents that are not required at all, where the information can be…

You may recently have seen or heard about a DTA policy memo instructing staff to close benefits of SNAP households that have a long pattern (more than 90 days) of use of their EBT card for out-of-state food purchases and cannot verify their MA residence. Here's a link to the recent DTA…

We've received a number of inquiries about how to calculate SNAP benefits for households that contain a foster child or person who is being cared for under the Adult Foster Care program.**  There are special federal and state SNAP rules that allow households to EXCLUDE the foster child or foster…